Hot Plastic

Over the past few weeks, my credit card has gotten quite the workout.

In no particular order:

Plane tickets to L and L's Wedding of the Century = bought and paid for. This vacation is what is getting me and B through the semester. We will be in Massachusetts for a week and hope to: spend a day in Boston visiting the aquarium and taking in the city; hang out on the beaches in Hampden; take a walk around Amherst; spend a gay, gay day in gay, gay Provincetown.

New Sony Vaio laptop = bought and paid for. I saved up all year for a Mac. I was dead set on buying a Mac. My in-laws are Mac people, and me and my crashy work PC were jealous. So, I saved. And when it came time to buy my much-desired Mac, I just couldn't think of handing over 2k for it. Listen, here is what I do on a laptop: watch Hulu and YouTube, read blogs, and make lesson plans. I researched and found that the Sony Vaio was something awesome, for about $1,200 less than the Mac. Of course the Mac is worth it, but I am not a horn-rimmed glasses hipster. The Sony is pretty sweet. It (with a super sleek apple green case) arrived a week ago, and Mama like.

Tickets to Wicked and a few nights at the Magnolia in Omaha = bought and paid for. About a month ago, I was seeing what Broadway shows were touring and saw that Wicked is in Omaha in May. I mentioned to B, "we should go to that." Then, a few days after that, my bff J. from back home e-mailed me and said, "Wicked is coming to Omaha. Me and R. want to go? Do you and B?" Perfect! So, we have a few days planned in Omaha with J and R. We will: dance all night in a gay dance club, shop and eat our way through Old Market, go to Wicked, and visit the zoo.

Now, all that is between me and these fabulous plans is the rest of the semester. That's it.

Spring Break begins for me this Friday. Praise Allah.

List-ful

Things I Am A-OK At:

1. Teaching.

2. Decorating a house. When I was younger, I thought that the true sign of adulthood was matching coffee tables, matching end tables, entertainment centers, you name it. Now, though, our house if filled with pieces of furniture meaningful to us. Stuff from our grandparents, from the quonset at the farm, from auction sales. Our house is bright and funky and hip and fun and filled with pictures of those we love/are loved by. I may quit this whole teaching gig and offer my services to the community-at-large. Matchy matchy is lame.

3. Homosexual activities.

4. Cleaning a house. I learned from the best: my mother. Growing up, Saturdays meant it was time to make the trailer sparkle. When we were really little, my sister and I would put the Footloose soundtrack on the record player and somersault our way across the living room while my mom vacuumed and dusted. As soon as we got big enough to wield vacuums and Pledge, we took over. The Footloose soundtrack still played a vital role.

5. Recommending books to read. I've got a stellar list that can be yours for one low, low price.

6. Loving up kids.

7. Knowing European and Asian capitals.


Things I Am Not So A-OK At:

1. Knowing Central and South American capitals.

2. Sleeping. My mind never shuts up.

3. Remembering the exact definition of "bemused."

4. Getting into movies that B really likes and says I will really like, too.

5. Using anything else on my hair other than a curling iron and Suave hairspray.

6. Handwriting.

7. Not being sarcastic, obnoxious, and/or judge-y.

Winter Wonderlame

Here I sit, gazing adoringly at the new 46" TV that looks so, so good in our living room.

It was the Christmas present from Ma and Pa J, and it is beautiful.

It's been a quiet start to the week. We are in the midst of The Worst Winter Storm in the History of Winter Storms Ever. Yesterday was a doozy. I was all dressed for work, had my lunch packed, and was just about to head out the door, when I thought, "you know, I should really check the road report."

And it was terrifying.

So I called people who commute, weighed the value of my life versus teaching kids about feminism, Ernest Hemingway, and sentence coordination, and decided to cancel class. Then I spent 2 hours posting notes and handouts to D2L. (Okay, most times, I kinda hate D2L, but it's super awesome for times like this.)

Then this morning, I woke at 6:30 and started checking area road reports and school closings. Road report = still terrifying. UC = classes as usual.

(Side bar: I think it is incredibly irresponsible of UC to not cancel classes. We are a 100% commuter college.)

Once again, I weighed my life versus driving home at 10 pm in high winds and dangerous windchills and icy roads. My life won out again! Score! 2 for 2! And then I spent three hours posting everything but the kitchen sink on D2L.

So, on my two heavy teaching days, I did not teach (in person). So I prepped and shoveled. Boy howdy, am I sososo tired of shoveling this freakin' driveway.

And tomorrow is my off day. So I'll do some grading and whatnot. Probably some more shoveling. And lots of instant watching Netflix. 46" of it, baby.

Well, not much other news. We are finalizing plans for our Massachusetts trip in June, so that pretty much rocks my face off. Oh, and bookclub meets at my place this Sunday.

Never a dull moment.

Hello New Year

So, another blog post starts out with me saying how I've neglected this poor little thing, how I resolve to post more, how I am a writer and writers write, and blah blah blah.

Quelle Surprise.

Maybe I will post, maybe I won't. But I have family in New Zealand who wants to know what's up (Hello, Katie!), and friends in Alaska and in Portland who want their fingers on the pulse of Vermillion news, so I ought to be better. I also ought to take daily flossing much more seriously.

The year has started out nicely. I've been eating stupidly well and keeping my commitment to the gym (again, ye olde 30th birthday looms), so I feel healthy. I've also shoveled the gd driveway 3 times in the past 24 hours, which is awesome.

My semester begins on Thursday. I'm halfway to pool time, baby. Doing some lit, some basic writing, and some business writing this semester. My eyebrows are waxed, my oil is changed, and my first day teaching outfit is all picked out. I don't feel the dread or the urgency of the new semester start yet, but I suppose that will come Wednesday evening.

B and I will celebrate 6 years this weekend. I was just on Allegiant Air, looking for a long-weekend trip to Phoenix or Vegas with which to surprise her, but I'm a little late on the draw (quelle surprise again). A weekend in Omaha sounds nice, but it's, like, cold there? And there's, like, lotsa snow? And, like, it's cold with lots of snow here, too? So, we might just stay home and do a little Sioux City-ing. A little movie-watching, prolly some wine-drinking.

Speaking of B, these are the words I said to my parents at 8 pm on Dec. 29, 2010:

I've been wanting to talk to you about this for a long time, but I didn't know how because I have been very, very scared. But, I want you to know me fully and be part of every part of my life.

So, I need you to know that the woman I live with, B, is not my roommate. I consider her my partner and we have a very happy, healthy life together.

If you want to talk about it, we can. If you want to ignore it, you can. If you want me to leave, I will. I just couldn't keep this from you any longer because me not saying anything has created too much distance between us and I love you guys too much to continue that distance.

Of course, it wasn't nearly as eloquent and was accompanied by stammering and many large hand gestures on my part, but I did it. I felt ready and safe and secure and I did it. Do I wish I could have found the courage much earlier? Absolutely. But, it's done and my parents were wonderful and loving and supportive. I knew I had good parents -- I knew that. But now, I am overwhelmed with love and respect for them. They rock.

So, I got the job, the house, the girl, the family, the friends, and the retirement account. Livin' the Dream.

The "I'd Sure Like To" Edition

I'd sure like to join the local credit union. (Wells Fargo, you are sucking the soul out of my body. I don't really eat at McDonald's, I don't really shop at Wal-Mart, so why in the hell do I really bank with Wells Fargo?)


I'd sure like to cut back and cover my perennial gardens. (I think I will have time to do my annual fall yard clean-up this weekend. I think. I put back together our formerly flooded basement and cleaned the garage this weekend, so the yard is the last big outside thing I want to do before the snow flies.)


I'd sure like to check the mail and find a check from anyone. (I think this everytime I get the mail. Every. Time.)


I'd sure like to live on a beach in a cabin in Puerto Rico for 60 bucks a month. (I should make my Basic Writing studs find all the prepositional phrases in that sentence.)


I'd sure like to take a trip anywhere. (Anywhere. At all. Except NoDak.)

I'd sure like to go to Avenue Q in March at the SuFu Washington Pavilion. (This may actually happen. For realsies.)


I'd sure like to get rid of the pain in my right Achilles heel. (I've had this since Spring. Ay yi yi.)


I'd sure like to get My Antonia read. (Whenever I say this in my head, I always say it as My Aunt Tonia. Ha!)


I'd sure like to be the guest host of Saturday Night Live. (I've got some really fantastic ideas for sketches.)


I'd sure like to go back to bed. (Instead of teaching 6 hours and holding 5 hours of office hours and driving 2 hours today.)

Breaking News!

dooo dooo dooot dooo dooo doot!

I was gonnna maybe sorta kinda let this blog fade off into the distance. If you love something, let it go. Howev, Berkowitz over in the city needs to be kept abreast of Vermillion news. Berkowitz, this one's for you.

The summer passed quickly. My big-dreamin' plans for Arizona, the East Coast, the West Coast did not happen. I believe it was Steinbeck who said, "The best laid plans of a Midwesterner often stay home." I am torn between desperately wanting to go somewhere new and loving weekends in my little home, in my little town, riding my bike while I still can.

The big 3-Day walk has been over for almost a month now, though it seems years ago. It was an emotional, challenging, rewarding experience that I will never, ever do again. Probably. Again, thank you all for your support, both monetarily and emotionally. Wunnerful people, the lot of ya.

We're on the 3rd week of classes! Ay yi yi. Still kinda in love with my students this semester, though I did have to say to both sections of my 101 class this week, "I am not your mother." But, that's okay. Good students abound, though. Friendly, engaged, and I've come across some really excellent writers, especially on the dude end. Last week, I was so not into teaching or grading or lesson planning. I was whiny in my head nonstop. I'm over that now.

B's birthday was about a week ago, so I:

took her out for an insanely romantic dinner at Pro's. ;)
washed her car in the driveway.
will get her little crickets for her classroom toads every other Friday for as long as she needs them.

When summer was first here, I was all, "I have no summer clothes!" Now that fall is fast approaching, I am all, "I have no fall/winter clothes!" What kind of clothes, exactly, do I have?" Who knows? All I know is that I own a ridiculous amount of Nike shorts, goodwill tee shirts, and denim. Sigh.

Speaking of (denim?), after 4 years of loyalty to Heart and Soul, I did not renew my membership with them. I have taken up with that vixen across the street, Anytime Fitness. There, I can watch cable, CABLE!, whilst elliptical'ing or treadmill'ing. Also, they have branches in Fargo and back home (and everywhere else, really), so I can gym it up when I go a-visiting. I have this thing about wanting to be under a certain number by the the time ye olde thirtieth birthday rolls around, and that's in March. So, we'll see. I also like to eat a whole bunch.

In some sad work-related news, my Chair has accepted a new position (still here, thank God). She won't be my Chair anymore. I have never known the ENGL department, both as a student and now as a teacher, without her at the helm. She will be close by, though, and I am happy for her. Still, I am a bit bummed.

That seems to be all for now, so I am signing off.

Stay classy, San Diego.

Clam Up

I've been walking.

A lot.

I'm walking for an excellent reason, but I need to find some new routes. I've pert near walked every inch of Vermillion, so maybe it's time to take on Yankton?

Sioux City? Sioux Falls? Gayville?

I broke the 100 mile mark for training walks on Sunday, but I am still pretty nervous about the event.

Whenever I get news from back home, it's usually sad. Deaths, divorces, cancer, shootouts (yes. A shootout.), and this week was no different. A boy my brother's age died in his sleep. He was 33 (I suppose I can't really call him a boy, can I?) and, growing up, I was close friends with his sister, and thus, knew his family well. 33. My uncle Tom was 33 years old when he died in a skiing accident. I was 12 at the time and he seemed old. He was my uncle. He died in January, and I remember having to go to JC Penney's with my mom to get nice clothes for his funeral, and I remember being snotty and mopey and sad, and I remember how I couldn't believe my mom had shopping on her mind. Now, as an adult close to 30, I can't imagine dragging 3 kids to the mall to get a decent shirt for my brother's funeral. I can't imagine losing a brother who was only 33 years old. News from home makes me sad.

Summer is here. Summer is summer. It's been cold and stormy and rainy and damp and humid. We get a few breaks when the sun emerges, and this is heaven. Household projects abound. I finally have some time to do all the things that need doing. Lots of organizing and cleaning and purging of stuff. I'm setting up an office in one of the spare rooms, and the auction circuit I've made the rounds on have been rewarding. Yesterday, I came home with a gorgeous, finished, walnut desk. It's circa 1950s and I got it for 35 bucks. I am happy as a clam.

I need to do some writing. Some poetry and whatnot. I haven't written much lately, or at all, or for a long time, but, recently, some ideas have been buoyant and persisting, so I will not mess with fate.

I saw a garter snake yesterday. This does not make me happy as a clam.